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Wanted was way more fun than it had any right to be.  So while I was looking forward to the sequel, there was always the lingering question of whether the madcap frenzy that made Wanted such a blast could be repeated--and if it could, would that be the makings of a good popcorn movie or just lukewarm leftovers?  It so happens that we'll never find out, because Angelina Jolie has dropped out of Wanted 2 according to Vulture, which in turn inspired Universal to bury the project.

But don't fret too much: when the movie gods close a door, they open a window.  Jolie has reportedly set her sights on Gravity, a space thriller from Children of Men director Alfonso Cuarón.  Details on the project after the break.

At one point Cuarón was said to be eying The Tourist, the political thriller starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.  Though that never came to pass, it appears it may have gotten the pair talking about future projects.  According to the report, Jolie would play "the sole surviving human member of a space mission, desperately trying to return home to Earth and her daughter." It sounds like there may be a lot of solo screen time for Jolie's character if the film gets made; I'll let you form your own comparisons to last summer's excellent Moon, which featured Sam Rockwell (and Sam Rockwell) alone on the lunar surface for most of the film's runtime.

Cuarón established major sci-fi cred with Children of Men, so it's definitely good news to see him return to the genre, especially in what sounds like a very strict application.  No doubt Jolie's attachment should help push the film through for as long as she stays committed.  Though an immense critical success, Children of Men failed to recoup it's $76 million budget in its worldwide theatrical release.  If Gravity has a similar pricetag, Cuarón may need a pretty big box office draw to get the green light.  And in terms of female earning power, Jolie is tops, perhaps second only to Sandra Bullock as of late.

To end the piece on a heartwarming note, it's worth noting that Cuarón co-wrote the script with his 28-year-old son, Jonás.

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